Germany tries four for ties to banned far-right group Combat 18

Four suspected far-right extremists went on trial in Germany on Thursday, accused of continuing the activities of a banned organization following its prohibition in 2020.

None of the men commented on the allegations at the start of the trial in the Dortmund regional court.

The banned group in question is Combat 18, with the numbers standing for the initials of Adolf Hitler, the first and eighth letters of the alphabet.

The indictment states that members of the group met for a walk in the eastern state of Thuringia weeks after the group was banned in October 2020.

Photos found on one defendant's mobile phone depict a group of at least 16 men visiting a memorial for the fallen of World Wars I and II.

One defendant allegedly sent a message to a participant days before the meeting, stating it was "a purely friendly affair without any political background," while adding: "Please wear non-political clothing."

The defendants reportedly met with other right-wing extremists at least 13 more times until a raid in April 2022. The indictment mentions activities including an endurance march from the Hermannsdenkmal - a colossal statue to the Germanic leader Arminius - to a rock formation about 9 kilometres away.

The Federal Prosecutor General said that other meetings aimed to recruit potential new members. At least two individuals are said to have joined Combat 18 after its ban. They allegedly had to correctly answer a questionnaire about national socialism, the Nazi ideology.

The Interior Ministry banned Combat 18 for promoting a "racist, National Socialist and anti-Semitic" ideology.

The first trial day included initial witness statements, from federal criminal police officers involved in evaluating the mobile phones. A policewoman said she saw "no political connection" in the photos from the Thuringia hike.

Further trial days are scheduled until September.